Destinations: Cape Town, Mossel Bay, Johannesburg, Hoedspruit
Destinations: Hwange National Park, Victoria Falls
Destinations: Victoria Falls
Teeming with wildlife, striking landscapes and fascinating history, South Africa is a land of untamed, unmatched and unforgettable experiences. Discover its abundant glory on this ultra-exclusive tour, taking you on a journey from Cape Town to Johannesburg. Embrace the ‘Cape Doctor’ wind on a journey to rugged Cape Point, then follow South Africa’s ultimate road trip – the picturesque Garden Route.
Settle in for safari splendour at Kapama Private Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger area, then search for the ‘Big Five’ African safari animals. Travel into the beautiful hinterlands and sample the finest bottles of the Cape Winelands during a special tasting experience. Whether you’re admiring the dramatic coast where two oceans meet, visiting a working ostrich farm or descending into the cavernous Cango Caves – reaching South Africa’s greatest sights is a walk in the (wildlife) park.
Destinations: Cape Town, Mossel Bay, Johannesburg, Hoedspruit
Destinations: Hwange National Park, Victoria Falls
Destinations: Victoria Falls
Hello, and welcome to captivating Cape Town! Surrounded by striking natural beauty, including the instantly recognisable Table Mountain, this harbour haven sits at the dramatic meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
Upon arrival at Cape Town International Airport (CPT), you’ll be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel for the rest of the day spent at leisure.
Arrival & Transfers:
Please book your flights to arrive at Cape Town International Airport (CPT) at any time today. Airport transfers are included on the first day of your tour. Your transfer will meet you on arrival and take you to your hotel. Check-in on Day 1 is at 2pm.
Meet your tour guide in the lobby and start your first morning with a whirlwind city tour.
Learn about the legislative capital’s rich history, culture and architecture as you visit the 17th-century Castle of Good Hope and admire the Edwardian grandeur of Cape Town City Hall. Witness the Grand Parade, where Nelson Mandela addressed the nation following his 27 years in prison, then head to the impressive Saint George’s Cathedral, from which Archbishop Desmond Tutu led crucial anti-apartheid marches.
Stroll the tranquil Company’s Garden and marvel at the colourful houses and cobbled streets of Bo-Kaap, formerly known as the Malay Quarter, where a tumultuous history unfolded against the slopes of Table Mountain. From here, watch expert craftspeople as they cut diamonds and produce delicate jewellery, a practice linked to the country’s centuries-old diamond and gold trade.
For those seeking higher ground, you’ll have the option to take a panoramic cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain for stunning views of the city. With its 360-degree rotating floor, the ride itself is a surefire showstopper. Upon your return to town, the rest of the afternoon is at your leisure.
Please note: Table Mountain visit is weather dependent. Table Mountain is closed to visitors between July – August for annual maintenance.
Travel time: Coach – approx. 4.5 hours
Head for the southwest tip of the Cape Peninsula as you travel to Cape Point this morning. With its jaw-dropping, rugged coastline, the journey is a spectacular look at the steep mountains, secluded coves and sandy beaches that connect the numerous fishing villages along the way.
Driving along the alluring Atlantic coast, you’ll pass through the sophisticated suburbs of Sea Point and Camps Bay, at the foot of the looming Twelve Apostles mountain range. Continue to the fishing community of Hout Bay, where an optional boat trip to Seal Island gives you the chance to see the charismatic Cape fur seal.
Reach Cape Point Nature Reserve, where a vast world of indigenous flora and fauna comes vividly to life. Watch for baboons, springing grey rhebok, Cape Mountain zebra and the elusive eland. From avid birdwatchers to fans of trundling tortoises, this reserve has a true abundance of wildlife to see.
Following the rough ridge to its end, you’ll stand where two oceans meet. At the intersection of the Atlantic and Indian Ocean currents, the brisk ‘Cape Doctor’ wind waves its perpetual welcome.
Travel back along False Bay and through Simon’s Town, with the option to visit the penguin colony of Boulders Beach, then pass the maritime village of Fish Hoek. Take an optional walk around the serene Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, named the best botanical garden in Africa at the 2024 World Luxury Travel Awards.
Travel time: Driving – approx. eight hours
Optional activities:
Set out to discover South Africa’s fertile reaches today as you embark on a full-day Cape Winelands tour. Renowned for crisp white wines and French-style reds, the settlements of Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are sure to captivate wine lovers and gourmands alike with award-winning restaurants, vineyard vistas and expert food and wine pairings.
Start your day in the beautiful valley of Paarl, the historic backdrop to President Mandela’s release from Groot Drakenstein Prison. Here, you’ll be transported to one of the local estates for a special wine tasting and tour of the cellar facilities.
From Paarl, travel northwest to the village of Franschhoek near the Drakenstein Mountains, founded almost 350 years ago by the Huguenots, a group of French Protestants who fled their homeland to escape religious persecution. These settlers helped establish the town’s reputable wine production – a history you can taste for yourself with another exclusive session at a local vineyard.
Finally, make your way to Stellenbosch, South Africa’s oldest colonial town after Cape Town. It was founded by Simon van der Stel, governor of the Dutch East India Company, after noting the fertile soils were ideal for vine-growing. From 18th-century architecture to impressive old oak trees, your Stellenbosch wine tasting is an idyllic experience to end the day.
Later, return to Cape Town for an evening at leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. eight hours
Today, you’ll transfer to picturesque Mossel Bay at the western reaches of the Garden Route, a stunning coastal stretch along which you’ll travel. Once a fishing village, Mossel Bay today stands as a thriving resort town catering to golfers, wildlife-lovers, beachgoers and sunseekers alike.
Arrive in time for a hearty lunch as you breathe in the crisp ocean air, then settle into scenic beauty, perhaps choosing to sample Knysna’s famous oysters for dinner (at own expense).
Travel time: Driving – approx. five hours
Rise and shine for a day filled with nature’s curiosities. Set out for Oudtshoorn, regarded as the ‘ostrich capital of the world’. This Western Cape town is renowned for farming the world’s biggest bird, so get to know the feathered locals with a visit to a working ostrich farm.
But first, delve into the famed Cango Caves, a network of ancient limestone chambers filled with dazzling dripstone formations of stalactites and stalagmites, before taking a trip to Cango Wildlife Ranch.
Later, return to Mossel Bay for a relaxing evening.
Travel time: Driving – approx. eight hours
Rise to an energising breakfast before transferring to George Airport (GRJ) for your onward flight to Hoedspruit Airport (HDS) by way of O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg. Once you’ve landed in Hoedspruit, you’ll be transferred to your river lodge at Kapama Private Game Reserve, situated in the Greater Kruger area, where a hearty dinner awaits.
Travel time: Driving – approx. one hour / Flight – approx. three hours
Please note: Depending on arrival time, an afternoon game drive and lunch may be available in Kapama Private Game Reserve.
The next two days are dedicated to the ample wild wonders of Kapama Private Game Reserve. Join full-day game drives through this spectacular park, spread over 13,000 hectares of the Greater Kruger area.
Thanks to its location at the border of Kruger National Park, Kapama offers exclusive wildlife-viewing opportunities, including the chance to spot the elusive ‘Big Five’. Keep your eyes open for rhinos, leopards, elephants and buffalos, as well as the show-stopping lion. Travelling across beautifully preserved landscapes and witnessing these majestic creatures in the wild will give new meaning to the phrase ‘animal kingdom’.
Upon returning to your elegant river lodge, you can make the most of the included activities, from rejuvenating spa treatments to stargazing after your lamp-lit dinner.
After a delicious breakfast, transfer back to Hoedspruit Airport (HDS) for your flight to O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg. A bustling metropolis, Johannesburg’s vast and complex cultural heritage stretches back beyond its founding in 1886. Once you’ve landed, transfer to your hotel to check-in for a restful evening.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 30 minutes / Flight – approx. one hour
Please note: Depending on departure time, a morning game drive may be available in Kapama Private Game Reserve.
At the end of your sweeping South African adventure, you’ll enjoy one final breakfast before transferring with a brief assisted walk over to O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB).
Departure & Transfers:
Checkout on your final day is at 11am. Please book your flights to depart from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) at any time today. Airport transfers are not included for your tour. The hotel is located at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB).
As any wildlife fan will know, the ‘Big Five’ African safari animals are top of the pack for bucket-list viewing. In the Greater Kruger area, the private game reserve of Kapama offers travellers a rare chance to spot them all, while avoiding the more crowded safari experience.
Setting out from your Kapama River Lodge, you’ll enter the reserve for a thrilling game drive through spectacular landscape. Keep your eyes peeled for the mesmerising zebra, thoughtful elephant, robust rhinoceros, muscular buffalo and proud lion.
Booking Summary: After you book, please follow the instructions in your booking summary email and ensure you complete your Traveller Details in full.
Update 19 December 2024: Amendments & Cancellations section updated, please see below.
Please note, our 7-Day Change of Mind ‘No Questions Asked’ Refund Guarantee and Date Change policy does not apply to Tours
Date Changes
Itinerary Amendments & Changes
Surcharges
Fine Print and package inclusions are accurate at the time of purchase and not subject to change, unless updates or corrections are specifically noted in the latest Fine Print with a timestamp. Please check the Fine Print prior to departure for any updates.
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Accommodation for the duration of your tour is included in the Tour package.
Please note:
Pre- & Post-Tour Accommodation
Pre- and post-tour accommodation can be booked to extend your stay before or after your tour by contacting our Tours Concierge Team at tours@luxuryescapes.com.
Luxury Escapes uses a range of accommodation partners. For pre- and post-tour accommodation options where we can offer the same hotel as the start and end of your tour, your pre- and post-tour accommodation will be booked independent of your tour. If the hotel for your tour changes, this will be independent of your pre- or post-tour accommodation booking. In this instance, change fees may apply on your pre- or post-tour accommodation. If you choose to change, change fees can be found in your ‘My Escapes’.
For pre- and post-tour accommodation bookings, you may be required to check out of your room and check in again on the first or last day of your tour. You will need to confirm these details directly with the hotel.
Please contact the Tours Concierge Team at tours@luxuryescapes.com for further information.
Full-day private Johannesburg & Soweto day tour
12-minute Flight of Angels helicopter flight
Guided tour of Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe side)
Zambezi National Park game drive (Zimbabwe side)
Transfers
Tipping
Please Note:
Travel Insurance
Passports & Visas
Traveller Details
Tour Pace
Travel Styles
Health and Fitness Acknowledgement:
Your tour begins at Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and ends at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) with airport transfers on arrival only. The hotel is located at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) on the last day of the base tour. The extended tour ends at Victoria Falls Airport (VFA), with return airport transfers.
Return flights are not included in your package and must be purchased separately. ** If your chosen tour departure date is guaranteed at the time of booking, you may be able to purchase flights immediately. If your tour departure date is not yet guaranteed (still pending minimum numbers), flights should not be booked until you receive an update on the status of your tour.**
Please book your flights to arrive at Cape Town International Airport (CPT) at any time on Day 1 and depart from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) at any time on Day 11, or Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) at any time on Day 13.
Airport transfers are included in your tour on the first day only for tours ending at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB). Return airport transfers are included in your tour on the first and last day only for tours ending at Victoria Falls Airport (VFA).
Important: Please allow for travelling time from international countries. International flights are not included in your package and must be purchased separately. It is your responsibility to make your own travel arrangements and ensure that you arrive at your starting location on your chosen tour start date.
A visa may be required for the destination you are visiting. It is each traveller’s responsibility to ensure they are holding a current visa. Please take the time to visit our preferred vendor website, Visas Direct, to assist you with any visa application requirements and processes. If you require any supporting documentation when applying for your visa, please let us know and we will be more than happy to assist. Click here to visit the website.
Need flights? Our dedicated flights concierge can assist with all your flight requirements (subject to availability). Contact sales@luxuryescapes.com.
Important Destination Information:
South Africa
Time zone: UTC +2
Telephone: +27
Currency: South African Rand (ZAR)
Accessing money: ATMs are widely available with credit cards widely accepted within the city. Cash is advised when visiting rural areas. Travellers are advised to inform their bank of their travel plans.
Language: South Africa recognises 11 official languages, however, the most widely spoken are Afrikaans, English and Zulu
Climate: Varies by region. Winter falls between June and August, while summer is from December to February.
Dress code: Relaxed but respectful, especially when visiting religious institutions.